Post date: Sep 13, 2010 10:51:11 AM
As a true aficionado of fine wine, you're likely to love a
good champagne. Not only do they smell and taste great, but
the explosion of fizz is unusual and enjoyable. Who doesn't
enjoy popping a champagne cork and pouring the wine into a
flute as the effervescence forms in the glass? Did you know
that wines from the Champagne region of France are the only
ones permitted to be called champagne? Although that
technically only applies within the European Union, many
other countries around the world have agreed not to use the
word champagne on their wines to avoid confusing consumers.
What Does Vintage Mean?
Vintage wines are from one year's harvest only. Usuallyvintage wines are much more expensive so most people settlefor non-vintage wines which are produced from wines ofdifferent years blended together. A benefit of non-vintagechampagnes is that they are more consistent because theydon't rely on one year's harvest.Champagne ProductionThe primary grapes using in making champagne are Pinot noirand Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Méthode Champenoiseis how the wines is usually made. Unlike normal wineproduction, a second fermentation step inside the bottlehappens when yeast and rock sugar are introduced. After thefrementation is finished, the neck of the bottle collectsthe waste from the fermentation and is then chilled so that
the liquid in the neck of the bottle freezes. When the
bottle is opened, the frozen liquid at the top of the bottle
neck is forced out under pressure, discarded, and the bottle
re-capped.
An example of a non-vintage champagne would be Champagne De
Vallois, which is a blend of three grape varieties,
Chardonnay from the Cote des Blancs, along with Pinot Noir
and Meunier from the Marne region of France. The wine itself
is dry with an elegant freshness and hints of citrus and
cream.
Buying Online
There are many different champagnes to suit all tastes and
budgets. However, one of the best ways to get a good deal is
to buy it online, especially if you buy it in a case of six
or twelve bottles for dramatic savings. There are some
things which are unsuitable to buying online, but
fortunately, wine isn't one of them. As long as you buy from
a trusted online retailer who packs the wine well, there
shouldn't be any problem in getting it shipped to you. Don't
forget to check for discounts, coupons and special deals.
I've seen fifty percent discounts, which can add up to big
savings. Overally, it's possible to get affordable yet
excellent wines delivered direct to your door without a huge
impact on your wallet, and what better way to celebrate than
with a case of champagne?
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